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RGB Led-bar

Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 4:09 pm
by Jfn
Conrad is offering a nice 3-colour ledbar (red/green/orange) that you can use to display anything you like:

http://www.conrad.nl/goto/?product=590996

Image

I use it to display RSS-feeds (See picture) and plan to use it to display important info I do not want to miss (e.g. birthdays). I can not miss it when I leave the house [:)]

Attached to this message a .PDF containing essential info on how to program the ledbar.

You could interface it with your domoticasystem to display whatever you like. The possibities are endless.

The unit is easily programmed through a serial interface or USB.

domoticaforum.eu/uploaded/Jfn/200822915 ... conrad.pdf

RGB Led-bar

Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 4:43 pm
by Noel
Hi Jfn. Now that looks like fun :-)

---
Never start anything you can not fi....

RGB Led-bar

Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 5:18 pm
by Snelvuur
Any linux support? Or "lichtkranten" for linux?

// Erik (binkey.nl)

RGB Led-bar

Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 5:52 pm
by Bwired
You got the protocol in the pdf file so does not really matter I guess just throw the command codes over the rs232 :-)

RGB Led-bar

Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 6:39 pm
by Digit
Always wanted one of those[:)]
And i'm still waiting for my PLCBUS stuff, so i think i'll order one.

RGB Led-bar

Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 6:53 pm
by Jfn
I use a simple perl script to send text to the led-bar. My server runs Linux, so yes, there is Linux support.

But as long as you have a system with a working perl environment it should not matter what OS you have.

I started programming the ledbar on my Notebook, so the first working perl script ran on Windows, but was easily 'ported' to Linux.

I pre-programmed the ledbar to only display pages ABCDEFGHI and Z, but this can also be done from the script.

If you are not sure about the exact coding of the ledcode string, use a serial port monitor (I use HHD Free Serial Port Monitor) and the Windows application that comes with the ledbar to gather information on the right formatting of the ledcode string.

The file 'rss1.txt' that is referenced in the perl script is filled with the output of, for example, the following URL:
http://nu.nl/deeplink_rss2/index.jsp?r=Algemeen

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by snelvuur</i>
<br />Any linux support? Or "lichtkranten" for linux?

// Erik (binkey.nl)
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"><b>Download Attachment:</b> [img]images/icon_paperclip.gif[/img] rss led.pl.txt<br />2.55KB

RGB Led-bar

Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 7:01 pm
by Snelvuur
I really should code more, to understand it all better. Wish i had more time :) but thanks for the script. USB didn't work for you btw? dont know if that changes much, but usb is easier to get on a new pc then serial :)

// Erik (binkey.nl)

RGB Led-bar

Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 7:11 pm
by Digit
USB will probably become a virtual COM port anyway, so driver needed, so only Windows support for that i assume.

RGB Led-bar

Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 7:15 pm
by Jfn
Correct, connecting through USB (after installing the enclosed driver) gives you an extra virtual COMport.

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Digit</i>
<br />USB will probably become a virtual COM port anyway, so driver needed, so only Windows support for that i assume.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I am not a great coder either, the perl code was build from various examples I found on the internet. My credo: 'Can you Google it, then you can make it'. USB worked also btw.

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by snelvuur</i>
<br />I really should code more, to understand it all better. Wish i had more time :) but thanks for the script. USB didn't work for you btw? dont know if that changes much, but usb is easier to get on a new pc then serial :)

// Erik (binkey.nl)
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

RGB Led-bar

Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 7:15 pm
by Snelvuur
depends on the type of usb cable, some are supported i think. Rfxcom works via usb too under linux.

// Erik (binkey.nl)

RGB Led-bar

Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 7:20 pm
by Digit
I've never done USB programming myself yet, wouldn't even know where to start [:)]

RGB Led-bar

Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 7:24 pm
by Snelvuur
Same as windows, you get a /dev/ttyUSB0 instead of /dev/ttyS0 to talk to :)

// Erik (binkey.nl)

RGB Led-bar

Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 7:32 pm
by Digit
Sorry, no such thing on Windows [:D][:D]
Image

RGB Led-bar

Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 8:55 am
by Droezel
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Digit</i>
<br />USB will probably become a virtual COM port anyway, so driver needed, so only Windows support for that i assume.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">The manual says it indeed creates a virtual com port, I'm ordering one! I've had an offer for a betabrite RGB ledsign a couple of weeks ago and that's like 599 Excl. VAT! This conrad price is a nice alternative.

RGB Led-bar

Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 6:19 pm
by Jfn
A short movie of the rgd ledbar:



The movie is of poor quality. When the messages are scrolling they are perfectly readable.